Printable paper; process for producing printable paper; and use thereof

ABSTRACT

A printable paper comprising a water-resistant support having two optionally subbed sides and a single layer on at least one of said optionally subbed sides, wherein said single layer has no substantial compositional variation, has a layer thickness of at least 3 μm, a pore volume of at least 1.2 mL/m 2  and comprises at least one porous pigment; a process for producing a printable paper comprising the steps of: (i) optionally providing a water-resistant support having two sides with a subbing layer on at least one side; (ii) providing at least one side of said optionally subbed water-resistant support with a single layer having no substantial compositional variation, said single layer being applied to said optionally subbed water-resistant support as at least one wet aqueous layer in a single pass for each side of said water-resistant support, said at least one aqueous layer comprising at least one latex, at least one pigment, at least one binder and optionally at least one insolubilizing agent, wherein said latex is an anionic acrylic latex or an aliphatic polyurethane latex; and the use in printing of the above-described printable paper or that obtained by the above-described production process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/037,472 filed on Mar. 18, 2008, and the benefit of European Patent Application No. 08102728.6 filed on Mar. 18, 2008, each of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a printable paper, a process for producing printable paper, and the use thereof in offset printing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Synthetic papers may be classified into two different types: one with a fibrous structure like cellulose paper, with synthetic fibers made from polyamides, polyester, or polyolefins replacing the cellulose fibers; and one in which a film is directly extruded from a thermoplastic polymer. These products differ considerably in their structure from cellulose paper and thus present a variety of different problems.

Extruded film is produced either by the cast film process or the blown film process in which the melt is forced through a circular die. A variant of the blown film process is the extrusion of foamed film in which through the addition of blowing agents (usually low boiling hydrocarbons) it is possible to produce foamed film from a variety of polymers. Two methods are used for the biaxial stretching of cast film: the simultaneous stretching process, in which the stretching is carried out in both directions at the same time, and the two-stage process, in which the two stretching operations are carried out consecutively.

Extruded films have a smooth surface which depends more on the state of the chill rolls than on the material itself. There are no cavities with capillary activity such as between the fibers of cellulose paper or synthetic fiber webs. This combination of smooth surface, low absorbing power, and non-polar structure frequently makes it difficult to print on polymer films: drying times are long, and the adhesion of the printing ink is poor.

Lunk and Stange in 1971 in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, volume 10, pages 287-294 stated that one type of surface treatment to improve the printability of extruded films is the application of a pigment coating. In the paper industry, the improvement of the surface of cellulose paper with a pigment coating had been known for some time. Typical binders for these coatings were casein, polyacrylates, or copolymers of butadiene and styrene. China clay, barium sulfate, chalk, or titanium dioxide were used as pigments. In spite of their closed, smooth surface coated papers were sufficiently absorptive for letterpress and offset printing because of their high content of mineral filler. Coated polymer films had similar properties; they could also be used for all printing processes, and the print quality was equal to that of coated papers. However, the demands of the printing industry have increased since 1971 requiring papers with ever higher printability.

GB 2 177 413A discloses a coating composition for a plastics substrate and comprising an aqueous system containing polymeric binder, pigment and antistatic agent characterised in that the binder contains carboxyl groups, that the binder:pigment dry weight ratio is in the range 15:100 to 50:100, preferably 22:100 to 35:100, the antistatic agent comprises a water soluble ionic compound present in an amount corresponding to a dry weight:pigment ratio of from 0.4:100 to 2.5:100 and in that the composition also contains an insolubilizing agent which is capable of reacting with carboxyl groups of the binder on drying the composition to insolubilize (as hereinbefore defined) the binder.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,637 discloses a thermoplastic resin film with satisfactory printability having a coated layer comprising a quaternary ammonium salt copolymer comprising (a) a structural unit represented by formula (I):

wherein A represents —O— or —NH—; R¹ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R² represents an alkylene group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms or —CH₂CH(OH)—CH₂—; R³, R⁴, R⁵, and R⁶, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R⁷ represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an aralkyl group having from 7 to 10 carbon atoms; n represents an integer of from 1 to 3; and X represents a chlorine atom, a bromine atom or an iodine atom, (b) a structural unit represented by formula (II):

wherein R⁸ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and R⁹ represents an alkyl group having from 1 to 22 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group having from 7 to 22 carbon atoms or a cycloalkyl group having from 5 to 22 carbon atoms, and (c) a structural unit derived from a monomer copolymerizable with monomers providing structural units (a) and (b) at a (a):(b):(c) weight ratio of 30 to 70:30 to 70:0 to 40.

JP 11-107194 discloses an offset-printable synthetic paper characterized by providing at least one side of a synthetic substrate with 1-7 g/m² of a coating layer comprising 20 to 50 wt % of polyvinyl alcohol, 20 to 50 wt % of a polyurethane resin and 20 to 50 wt % of a silica pigment, with it being preferred that the polyurethane resin is a carboxyl-containing crosslinkable polyurethane resins or a polyester-based polyurethane resin and the particle size of the silica pigment is 2-5 μm, and the synthetic paper has 20-50% opacity determined in accordance with the JIS P 8138.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,393 discloses a paper coating composition comprising (a) at least one binder containing a plurality of functional groups capable of reacting with carboxylic acid anhydride moieties to form chemical bonds, and (b) at least one insolubilizing agent chosen from the group consisting of compounds containing a plurality of carboxylic acid anhydride moieties per molecukar entity.

WO 03/033577A discloses a printable, opaque coated sheet, suitable for use in contact and/or association with foodstuffs, the coating comprising by dry weight of the coat: (a) from about 30% to about 70% of a copolymer of an ethylenically unsaturated acid; (b) from about 30% to about 70% of an inert particulate filler; where the coating is substantially free from any reactive binder and/or cross-linking agent. WO 03/033577A further discloses that the ethylenically unsaturated acid is preferably neutralised by ammonia and not metal cations, since this has the advantage that on drying ammonia evaporates and acid groups become less moisture sensitive compared to metal cation stabilised ethylene acrylic acid (EAA) copolymer dispersions.

US 2004/0146699A1 discloses a composite plastics sheet which is printable on at least one surface, and comprises a base layer and optionally a printable layer forming the printable surface, characterized in that the base layer has a density of 0.65 g/mL or less, or, if there is no separate adhesive layer on the surface opposite the printable surface, a density of 0.7 g/mL or less.

US 2006/0257593A1 discloses a printing sheet comprising a substrate and, on at least one side of the substrate, an image receptive coating layer with a cumulative porosity volume of pore widths below 200 nm as measured using nitrogen intrusion methods of more than 0.006 cm³ per gram paper.

EP 1 743 976A1 discloses a coated printing sheet for sheet-fed offset printing with an image receptive coating layer on a paper substrate, characterized in that the image receptive coating layer comprises a top layer and/or at least one second layer below said top layer, said top and/or second layer comprising: a pigment part, wherein this pigment part is composed of 0 to 99 parts in dry weight of a fine particulate carbonate and/or of a fine particulate kaolin 1 to 100 parts in dry weight of a fine particulate silica and a binder part, wherein this binder part is composed of: 5-20 parts in dry weight of binder and less than 4 parts in dry weight of additives.

As the foregoing present certain disadvantages, a need exists for an improved paper for use in printing processes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the present invention provides a printable paper comprising a water-resistant support having two optionally subbed sides and a single layer on at least one of said optionally subbed sides, wherein said single layer has no substantial compositional variation, has a layer thickness of at least 3 μm, a pore volume of at least 1.2 mL/m² and comprises at least one porous pigment.

A further aspect of the invention provides a process for producing a printable paper comprising the steps of: (i) optionally providing a water-resistant support having two sides with a subbing layer on at least one side; and (ii) providing at least one side of said optionally subbed water-resistant support with a single layer having no substantial compositional variation, said single layer being applied to said optionally subbed water-resistant support as at least one wet aqueous layer in a single pass for each side of said water-resistant support, said at least one aqueous layer comprising at least one latex, at least one pigment, at least one binder and optionally at least one insolubilizing agent, wherein said latex is an anionic acrylic latex or an aliphatic polyurethane latex.

Another aspect of the present invention contemplates the use in printing of the above-described printable paper or that obtained by the above-described production process.

Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

The term “printable paper”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means paper or a paper-like material capable of being printed by at least one conventional contact or contactless printing technique e.g. offset printing, gravure printing, screen printing, flexographic printing, electrophotographic printing and ink-jet printing.

The term “overprintable”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means capable of being overprinted by conventional impact and/or non-impact printing processes.

The term “conventional printing processes”, as used in disclosing the present invention, includes but is not restricted to ink-jet printing, intaglio printing, screen printing, flexographic printing, offset printing, stamp printing, gravure printing, dye transfer printing, thermal sublimation printing and thermal and laser-induced processes.

The term “support”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a “self-supporting material” so as to distinguish it from a “layer” which may be coated as a solution or dispersion, evaporated or sputtered on a support, but which itself is not self-supporting. It also includes an optional conductive surface layer and any treatment necessary for, or layer applied to aid, adhesion.

The term “subbing layer”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means any layer or layer configuration required to realize adhesion between the support and the single layer, but plays no role in the printing performance of the printable paper.

The term “water-resistant support”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a support the surfaces of which are resistant to water e.g. synthetic paper and resin-coated cellulosic paper.

The term “layer”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a (continuous) coating covering the whole area of the entity referred to e.g. a support.

The term “single layer”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means there is only one layer on each side of the water-resistant support, although it may be applied as a plurality of wet layers in a single pass. The “single layer” has receiving properties, since otherwise the “printable paper” would not be printable.

The term “no substantial compositional variation”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means that although the layer may be coated as a plurality of wet layers the layer resulting therefrom has a compositional variation of no more than 5% by weight.

The term “porous pigment”, as used in disclosing the present invention, embraces both pigments having primary particles having an internal porosity e.g. a silica gel particles and pigments whose primary particles have no internal porosity and have a specific surface area of at least 100 m²/g, which are present as secondary particles having an internal porosity as a result of the aggregation of the primary particles e.g. flame pyrolyzed inorganic particles such as the particles in the Aerosil® range produced by Degussa.

The term “latex”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means that the latex polymer is substantially insoluble in water i.e. having a solubility in water of less than 10 mg per 100 g water at a temperature of 25° C., is prepared by standard latex preparation techniques and is supplied and used as an aqueous dispersion.

The term “water-soluble binder”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a binder with a solubility in water of at least 1 g per 100 g water at a temperature of 25° C.

The term “inorganic opacifying pigment”, as used in disclosing the present application, means a pigment capable of opacifying (i.e. rendering more opaque) which includes substantially white inorganic pigments having a refractive index of at least 1.4 and pigments, which as a dispersion in a polymer are capable upon stretching of causing opacity due to microvoiding.

The term “whitening agent”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a white/colourless organic compound which exhibits a blue luminescence under the influence of ambient UV-light. The term “insolubilizing agent”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means an agent capable of insolubilizing the latex.

The term “colorant”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means dyes and pigments.

The term “dye”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a colorant having a solubility of 10 mg/L or more in the medium in which it is applied and under the ambient conditions pertaining.

The term “pigment” is defined in DIN 55943, herein incorporated by reference, as an inorganic or organic, chromatic or achromatic colouring agent that is practically insoluble in the dispersion medium under the pertaining ambient conditions, hence having a solubility of less than 10 mg/L therein.

The term “synthetic paper”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a paper-like material produced either by forming a web from synthetic fibres or by extruding a film from thermoplastic polymers optionally coated on one or both sides with a receiving layer.

The term “film”, as used in disclosing the present invention, is an extruded sheet of a particular composition or a sheet consisting of a multiplicity of films with the same or different compositions produced by co-extrusion of liquids with the same or different compositions in contact with one another. The terms film and foil are used interchangeably in the present disclosure. The term linear polyester, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a polyester comprising hydrocarbon dimethylene and dicarboxylate monomer units.

The term “non-transparent film”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a film capable of providing sufficient contrast to a transparent image to make the image clearly perceptible. A non-transparent film can be an “opaque film”, but need not necessarily be completely opaque in that there is no residual translucence i.e. no light penetration through the film. Optical density in transmission as measured with a MacBeth TR924 densitometer through a visible filter can provide a measure of the non-transparency of a film. ISO 2471 concerns the opacity of paper backing and is applicable when that property of a paper is involved that governs the extent to which one sheet visually obscures printed matter on underlying sheets of similar paper and defines opacity as “the ratio, expressed as a percentage, of the luminous reflectance factor of a single sheet of the paper with a black backing to the intrinsic luminous reflectance factor of the same sample with a white reflecting backing. 80 g/m² copy paper, for example, is white, non-transparent and has an optical density of 0.5 as measured with a MacBeth TR924 densitometer through a yellow filter according to ISO 5-2 and metallized films typically have an optical density ranging from 2.0 to 3.0.

The term “voids or microvoids”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means microcells, minute closed cells, cavities, bubbles or pores or cellulation, which, for example, can be formed in an oriented polymeric film during stretching as the result of a void-initiating particle initiated by particles that are immiscible with the polyester matrix. The voids or microvoids can be unfilled or filled with air or a vapour of some sort. Even if initially unfilled the voids or microvoids may over time become filled with air or a vapour of some sort.

The term “foam”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a substance that is formed by trapping many gas bubbles in a liquid or solid.

The term “apparent density”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means the weight of a 100 mm×100 mm piece of film with a thickness measured in contact with an inductive probe with ball tip 3 mm in diameter divided by its volume. This value assumes that the surfaces of the piece of film are flat and parallel to one another. This value corresponds to the apparent density values reported in EP-A 0 496 323 and WO 2005/105903A.

Printable Paper

Aspects of the present invention are realized by a printable paper comprising a water-resistant support having two optionally subbed sides and a single layer on at least one of said optionally subbed sides, wherein said single layer has no substantial compositional variation, has a layer thickness of at least 3 μm, a pore volume of at least 1.2 mL/m² and comprises at least one porous pigment, with a pore volume of at least 1.5 mL/m² being preferred.

The printing paper, according to the present invention, may be coated on both sides each with a single layer in a single pass. However, if coated on one side the non-coated side may be provided with an adhesive layer for label applications.

Porosity can be determined by standard techniques such as nitrogen porosimetry, in which nitrogen is condensed in the pores and calculating the pore volumes from the quantities of gas required to fill the pores, and mercury porosimetry, in which liquid mercury is forced into pores by increasing the external pressure, the amount of mercury required to fill the pores being increased incrementally.

According to a first embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the printable paper is exclusive of an antistatic agent comprising a water-soluble ionic inorganic compound.

According to a second embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the opacity of said printable paper determined according to ASTM D589 C/2° is greater than 90%.

According to a third embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises a hardened melamine-formaldehyde resin e.g. by hardening Madurit MW15 from Vianova Resins N.V.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the single layer further contains a hardened proteinaceous substance e.g. by the hardening of the ammonium salt of casein.

Water-Resistant Support

According to a fifth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is provided with a subbing layer on at least one side thereof.

The term “water-resistant support”, as used in disclosing the present invention, means a support the surfaces of which are resistant to water. Such supports enable overcoating with aqueous solutions or dispersions without affecting the “water-resistant support”.

Water-resistant supports include resin-coated cellulosic paper, webs having a fibrous structure formed with synthetic fibers and webs in which a film is directly extruded from a thermoplastic polymer. The resin-coating of resin-coated cellulosic paper can be rendered non-transparent by the inclusion of opacifying pigments therein. Webs having a fibrous structure formed with synthetic fibers and webs in which a film is directly extruded from a thermoplastic polymer can be rendered non-transparent by the inclusion of opacifying pigments. Furthermore, webs in which a film is directly extruded from a thermoplastic polymer can be also rendered non-transparent by axial stretching-induced microvoid formation resulting from the presence of poorly compatible dispersions of amorphous high polymers with a higher glass transition temperature than the glass transition temperature or melting point of the matrix polymer and/or the crystalline high polymers which melt at a higher temperature than the glass transition temperature or melting point of the matrix polymer and axially stretching the extruded film. Widely used matrix polymers include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide and polyester.

According to a sixth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is resin-coated cellulosic paper, a web having a fibrous structure formed with synthetic fibers or a web in which a film is directly extruded from a thermoplastic polymer.

According to a seventh embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support comprises at least 50% by weight of a linear polyester.

According to an eighth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support comprises at least 50% by weight of a linear polyester and an opacifying pigment, the opacifying pigment being preferably selected from the group consisting of silica, zinc oxide, zinc sulphide, lithopone, barium sulphate, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide, aluminium phosphate and clays.

According to a ninth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched directly extruded thermoplastic polymer comprising dispersed therein at least one amorphous high polymer with a higher glass transition temperature than the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic polymer and/or at least one crystalline high polymer having a melting point which is higher than the glass transition of the thermoplastic polymer.

According to a tenth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched directly extruded linear polyester having dispersed therein at least one amorphous high polymer having a higher glass transition temperature than that of said linear polyester and/or at least one crystalline high polymer having a higher melting point than the glass transition temperature of said linear polyester matrix, the amorphous high polymer preferably comprising at least one chain-polymerized block.

According to an eleventh embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched directly extruded linear polyester having dispersed therein at least one amorphous high polymer having a higher glass transition temperature than that of said linear polyester and/or at least one crystalline high polymer having a higher melting point than the glass transition temperature of said linear polyester matrix, wherein said at least amorphous high polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, styrene copolymers, SAN-polymers, polyacrylates, acrylate-copolymers, polymethacrylates and methacrylate-copolymers,

According to a twelfth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched directly extruded linear polyester having dispersed therein at least one amorphous high polymer having a higher glass transition temperature than that of said linear polyester and/or at least one crystalline high polymer having a higher melting point than the glass transition temperature of said linear polyester matrix, wherein said crystalline high polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, preferably high density polyethylene, polypropylene, preferably isotactic polypropylene, and isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene).

According to a thirteenth eleventh embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched directly extruded linear polyester having dispersed therein particles of a SAN-polymer and/or at least one crystalline high polymer which has a melting point at a higher temperature than the glass transition temperature of the polyester, with at least one crystalline high polymer selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene and isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) being preferred.

According to a fourteenth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched directly extruded linear polyester having dispersed therein particles of at least one amorphous high polymer with a higher glass transition temperature than the glass transition temperature of the linear polyester and/or isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), with at least one amorphous high polymer selected from the group consisting of SAN (styrene-acrylonitrile)-polymers and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene)-polymers being preferred.

According to a fifteenth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support is a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched directly extruded linear polyester having dispersed therein 5 to 20% by weight of a styrene-acrylonitrile-block copolymer and 0.1 to 10% by weight of isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene).

According to a sixteenth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, said water-resistant support further comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of whitening agents, UV-absorbers, light stabilizers, antioxidants, flame retardants and colorants.

Latex

According to a seventeenth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises a latex, the latex being preferably an anionic acrylic latex or an aliphatic polyurethane latex.

According to an eighteenth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the latex is a self-crosslinking latex.

Suitable latexes are given in the table below:

acid solids nr latex conc [mg nr [wt %] KOH/g] pH comonomers 01 Joncryl BASF 42 90 8.5 styrene 2-ethyl- ammonium FLX5000 hexyl acrylate acrylate α-methyl- styrene 02 Joncryl BASF 32 216  8.3 styrene α-methyl- ammonium 8078 styrene acrylate 03 Dispercoll BAYER 40 aliphatic U53 PU 04 Joncryl BASF 46 <10   8.5 styrene acrylate ammonium FLX5010 acrylate 05 Joncryl BASF 42 111* 7.8 styrene acrylate methacrylate 8050 06 Hycar PC84 Dow 48 6.0 styrene acrylic acrylonitrile Chemical acid ethyl acrylate N-hydroxy- methyl- acrylamide 07 Carboset Goodrich 59 6 styrene acrylate GA2364 08 Joncryl BASF 49 16 7.9 quat. acrylate 8385 mod 09 Enorax Collano 30 4.5 cationic PU PU950 10 wac-17XC Takamatu 25 8 anionic polyester Oil & Fat PU Co. Ltd 11 Crom- Cromogenia- 8.3 cationic aliphatic elastic units PU C4480 S.A. 12 Mowilith Clariant 6 vinyl veova acrylate DM 2452 acetate (vinyl versatate) 13 Wellpur Van Camp 30 5 cationic aliphatic FM10C Chemicals PU 14 Neorez Avecia 40 8.3 aliphatic R989 PU 15 Jetsize Eka Nobel cationic styrene acrylate CE225 monomer 16 Hycar Lubriziol 49 carboxy- 26084 modified acrylic 17 Hycar 2679 Lubrizol 49 acrylic 18 Hycar 2671 Lubrizol 51 acrylate acrylonitrile 19 Impranil BAYER 60 anionic polyester- DLU aliphatic polyurethane 20 Impranil BAYER polyurethane LP RSC1997 21 Impranil BAYER polyurethane LP RSC3040 22 Bayhydrol BAYER XP2558 23 Airflex Air 60 vinyl ethylene EP17 Products acetate 24 Polysol Showa 55 vinyl ethylene EVA550 Denko K.K. acetate *from low-MW alkali-soluble styrene/acrylate copolymer In the case of those latexes with high pH's and good water and alkaline resistance, it is possible that the latex or a stabilizing dispersing agent is solubilized with ammonium hydroxide and with the evaporation of the ammonia the resins are rendered insoluble.

Suitable self-crosslinking resins are given in the Table below.

solids latex conc acid nr nr [wt %] [mg KOH/g] pH comonomers 25 Acronal BASF 50 8.5-10 acrylic LR 8977 26 Acronal BASF 50 8.5-10 acrylic S 760 27 Joncryl BASF 41 8.3 acrylic 1580 28 Joncryl BASF 41 8.2 acrylic 8380 29 Joncryl BASF 40 23 8.1 acrylic 8383 30 Joncryl BASF 41 27 8.2 acrylic 8384 31 Joncryl BASF 49 16 7.9 acrylic 8385 32 Joncryl BASF 40 18 8.0 acrylic 8386 33 Joncryl BASF 43.5 50 9.6 acrylic 8300 34 Joncryl BASF 42 26 7.6 acrylic 8311 35 Luhydran BASF 45 0  1.5-2.5 acrylic S 937 T 36 NeoCryl DSM Neo- acrylate XK-98 Resins 37 NeoPac DSM Neo- aliphatic hybrid R-9029 Resins urethane The mechanism of self-crosslinking is not disclosed. However, one skilled in the art would expect crosslinking to be accompanied by insolubilization.

Porous Pigment Particles

According to a nineteenth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the porous pigment is an inorganic pigment and includes pigments having primary particles having an internal porosity and pigments whose primary particles have no internal porosity and have a specific surface area of at least 100 m²/g, which are present as secondary particles having an internal porosity as a result of the aggregation of the primary particles. Examples of such primary particles are flame pyrolyzed inorganic particles such as the particles in the Aerosil® range produced by Degussa.

According to a twentieth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the at least one porous pigment is an polymeric pigment and includes polymeric pigments having primary particles having an internal porosity and pigments whose primary particles have no internal porosity and have a specific surface area of at least 100 m²/g, which are present as secondary particles having an internal porosity as a result of the aggregation of the primary particles.

According to a twenty-first embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the at least one porous pigment is a mixture of at least one inorganic porous pigment and at least one organic polymeric porous pigment.

Suitable porous inorganic pigments are given in the table below:

Oil Average absorption particle Pore Pore capacity PP- Chemical size volume diameter [mL/ Surface nr Product name Producer composition [μm] pH [mL/g] [nm] 100 g] treatment 01 Sunsphere H53 Asahi Glass SiO₂ 5 2 30 400 02 Sunsphere H33 Asahi Glass SiO₂ 3 2 30 400 03 Sunsphere H52 Asahi Glass SiO₂ 5 2 25 300 04 Sunsphere H32 Asahi Glass SiO₂ 3 2 25 300 05 Sunsphere H52 Asahi Glass SiO₂ 5 2 25 300 06 Sunsphere H32 Asahi Glass SiO₂ 3 2 25 300 07 Sunsphere H51 Asahi Glass SiO₂ 5 1 5 150 08 Sunsphere H31 Asahi Glass SiO₂ 3 1 5 150 09 Sunsil 130H-SC Sunjin SiO₂ 7 1.4 methicone treated 10 Sunsil 130SH Sunjin SiO₂ 7 2.2 none 11 Sunsil 130XH Sunjin SiO₂ 7 3.0 none 12 Syloid C803 Grace- SiO₂ 3.4-4.0 2.9-3.7 2.0 none Davison 13 Syloid C807 Grace- SiO₂ 6.7-7.9 2.9-3.7 2.0 none Davison 14 Syloid C2006 Grace- SiO₂ 5.4-6.6 3.5 2.0 20% Davison special organic 13 Syloid ED2 Grace- SiO₂   3.9 6.0 none 15 Davison 16 Syloid ED5 Grace- SiO₂  8.4-10.2 6.0-8.5 1.8 none Davison 17 Syloid W500 Grace- SiO₂ 7.8-9.4 8.7-9.7 1.2 none Davison 18 Syloid W300 Grace- SiO₂ 5.3-6.3 8.7-9.7 1.2 none Davison 19 Syloid 72 Grace- SiO₂ 4.5-5.7 6.0-8.0 1.2 npne Davison 20 Syloid 74 Grace- SiO₂ 5.9-7.5 6.0-8.0 1.2 none Davison 21 Syloid 244 Grace- SiO₂ 2.5-3.7 6.0-8.0 1.6 none Davison 22 Spheron L1500 CCIC/Ikeda SiO₂  3-15 1.46 23 Spheron P1500 CCIC/Ikeda SiO₂ 7 0.65-0.7 24 ZeeoSphere 3M SiO₂; 5 >3 70 G200 Al₂O₃ 25 Micral 9400 J. M. Huber Al(OH)₃ 26 Digitex 1000 Engelhard Kaolin- Industries based pigment 27 Syloid SP500- Grace- SiO₂ 11007 Davison

Suitable porous polymeric pigments are given in the table below:

Average Oil absorption particle Pore Pore capacity PP- Chemical size volume diameter [mL/ nr Product name Producer composition [μm] pH [mL/g] [nm] 100 g] 28 Submicron Nippon urea-form- 1-8# 500-1000 Filler Kasei aldehyde resin 29 Micropearl Matsumoto PMMA 4.3 0.45 M305 30 Covabead LH170 LCW PMMA 7.2 1.7  31 Sunpmma-PH Sunjin PMMA 8 2.3-2.6 17 2.2 32 Deuteron OG874 Deuteron ground 8.0 polymethyl urea 33 Pergopak M6 Albemarle polymethyl 0.3* urea 34 Pergopak HP Albemarle polymethyl 0.125* urea #primary particle size 0.1-0.3 μm *primary particle size

Porosity can be determined by standard techniques such as nitrogen porosimetry, in which nitrogen is condensed in the pores and calculating the pore volumes from the quantities of gas required to fill the pores, and mercury porosimetry, in which liquid mercury is forced into pores by increasing the external pressure, the amount of mercury required to fill the pores being increased incrementally.

Opacifying Pigments

According to a twenty-second embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises at least one opacifying pigment.

Suitable opacifying pigments are given in the table below:

Oil Average absorption particle Pore Pore capacity OP- Chemical size volume diameter [mL/ Surface nr Product name Producer composition [μm] pH [mL/g] [nm] 100 g] treatment 01 SpaceRite S-11 Almatis Al(OH)₃ 0.25-0.31 9.8 24-28 02 Pural BT Sasol Al(OH)₃ 5 03 Carbital 110 Zinchem CaCO₃ 2 04 Carbital 120 Zinchem CaCO₃ 5 05 Jetcoat 30 Specialty CaCO₃ 7.0 Minerals slurry 06 VPR350ME SA Omya CaCO₃ 6.5 Benelux anionic slurry 07 China Clay Engelhard China Clay 0.4 3.5-5.0  Pigment ASP200 Industries 08 China Clay Zinchem China Clay 2 Grade B 09 Snowtex Nissan colloidal 10-20 nm 9.0-10.5 Chemical SiO₂ 10 Hydragloss 90 J. M. Huber fine glossing coating clay 11 Artnr. 102143 Merck Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH 12 VITOSS Orthovita Ca₃(PO₄)₂ 0.1* 13 Kronos 2059 Kronos TiO₂ 7.0 18-21 14 Ti Pure R900 Du Pont TiO₂ 4 7.3 15 Finntitan RD5 Keyser & TiO₂ 0.21 7.5 19 Mackay

Water-Soluble Binder

According to a twenty-third embodiment, of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises at least one water-soluble binder.

According to a twenty-fourth embodiment, of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the water-soluble binder is a hydrolyzed polymer or copolymer of a vinylester.

According to a twenty-fifth embodiment, of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the water-soluble binder is a hydrolyzed polymer or copolymer of vinyl acetate, with a degree of hydrolysis of at least 85% being preferred, and a degree of hydrolysis of at least 87% being particularly preferred.

Suitable water-soluble binders include the hydrolyzed polyvinyl acetates given in the table below.

Degree of Residual acetyl hydrolysis (Vinyl acetate) [mol %] content [wt %] B01 Erkol 48 20 ACETEX 97.5-99.5 B02 Mowiol 10-74 Kuraray 74   Specialties Europe (KSE) B03 Airvol 350 Air 97.5-99.5 Products B04 Airvol 540 Air 87-88 Products B05 Mowiol 15-79 KSE 81.5 15.4 B06 Mowiol 3-83 KSE 82.6 14.6 B07 Mowiol 4-88 KSE 87.7 10.8 B08 Mowiol 5-88 KSE 87.7 10.8 B09 Mowiol 8-88 KSE 87.7 10.8 B10 Mowiol 18-88 KSE 87.7 10.8 B11 Mowiol 23-88 KSE 87.7 10.8 B12 Mowiol 26-88 KSE 87.7 10.8 B13 Mowiol 40-88 KSE 87.7 10.8 B14 Mowiol 47-88 KSE 87.7 10.8 B15 Mowiol 30-92 KSE 92.4 6.9 B16 Mowiol 3-96 KSE 97.2 2.7 B17 Mowiol 3-98 KSE 98.4 1.5 B18 Mowiol 6-98 KSE 98.4 1.5 B19 Mowiol 10-98 KSE 98.4 1.5 B20 Mowiol 20-98 KSE 98.4 1.5 B21 Mowiol 56-98 KSE 98.4 1.5 B22 Mowiol 28-99 KSE 99.4 0.6 B23 Poval PVA 203 Kuraray 88.0 B24 Poval PVA 205 Kuraray 87.8 B25 Poval PVA 217 Kuraray 88.0 B26 Poval PVA 220 Kuraray 88.0 B27 Poval PVA 224 Kuraray 88.0 B28 Poval PVA 226 Kuraray 87.5 B29 Poval PVA 235 Kuraray 88.0 B30 Poval PVA 403 Kuraray 80.0 B31 Poval PVA 405 Kuraray 81.5 B32 Poval PVA 420 Kuraray 79.5 B33 Poval PVA CST Kuraray 96.0 B34 Poval PVA 613 Kuraray 93.5 B35 Poval PVA 624 Kuraray 95.5 B36 Poval PVA 706 Kuraray 91.5 B37 Poval PVA 103 Kuraray 98.5 B38 Poval PVA 105 Kuraray 98.5 B39 Poval PVA 110 Kuraray 98.5 B40 Poval PVA 117 Kuraray 98.5 B41 Poval PVA 124 Kuraray 98.5

Hardened Polyhydroxy-Resin

According to a twenty-sixth embodiment, of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises at least one hardened initially water-soluble polyhydroxy resin.

According to a twenty-seventh embodiment of the present invention, the single layer further contains a hardened hydrolyzed polymer or copolymer of a vinyl ester e.g. by the hardening of POVAL R1130, a silanol modified polyvinyl alcohol.

Suitable water-soluble polyhydroxy resins include hydrolyzed polymers or copolymers of a vinylester; cellulose and cellulose derivatives; polysaccharides; and polyalkylene glycols.

Suitable hardeners include polyisocyanates, hydrolyzed polyalkoxysilanes e.g. tetraalkyl orthosilicates.

Insolubilization Agents

Insolubilization is a process in which either a solublization process is reversed e.g. by pH reduction if a pH-change brings about solublization e.g. by conversion of a carboxy group into a carboxylate ion e.g. by acidification or simple evaporation of ammonia if ammonium hydroxide is used to realize the solubilization. Such solubilization can apply to a latex or to a dispersing agent stabilizing a latex dispersion. Alternatively insolublization can be the addition of an insolubilizing agent such as formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, glyoxal-derivatives, dimethylol urea, polyanionic metallic compounds (see GB 2177413A at page 2, line 5) and melamine-formaldehyde resins and carboxylic acid anhydrides which contain a plurality of anhydride moieties on each molecular entity (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,393). These insolubilization agents can catalyze, initiate a reaction with, complex with, cure or otherwise react with the species being insolubilized. Moreover, the insolubilizing agent may require activation in order for it to acquire insolubilizing properties e.g. by heating, exposure to electromagnetic radiation e.g. light, X-rays, electron beams etc., a change in pH or any other means.

According to a twenty-eighth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises at least one insolubilizing agent unless said latex is solubilized with ammonium hydroxide.

According to a twenty-ninth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises at least one insolubilizing agent selected from the group consisting of: polyisocyanates, formaldehyde, formaldehyde derivatives, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, glyoxal-derivatives, dimethylol urea, polyanionic metallic compounds and melamine-formaldehyde resins, polyalkoxysilanes (e.g. tetraalkyl orthosilicates), and carboxylic acid anhydrides which contain a plurality of anhydride moieties on each molecular entity.

Suitable insolubilizing agents include:

IN01: Bayhydur 3100, a hydrophilic aliphatic isocyanate based on hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI from Bayer IN02: Parez Resin 707, a dimethylol trimethylolmelamine formaldehyde resin from Am Cyanamid IN03: Irgacure 500, a hydrophilic aliphatic isocyanate based on hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI from Bayer IN04: Bayhydur XP2547, a hydrophilic aliphatic isocyanate based on hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI from Bayer IN05: Irgacure 819DW, a UV-initiator from CIBA IN06: Irgacure 500, a UV-initiator from CIBA IN07: Berset ® 2115*, a glyoxal-based reactant as a light straw- coloured liquid (46-48 wt %) from Bercen, Inc. IN08: Berset ® 2116*, a glyoxal-based reactant as a clear straw- coloured liquid (49-51 wt %)from Bercen, Inc. IN09: Berset ® 2125*, a glyoxal-based reactant as a light straw- coloured liquid (67-69 wt %)from Bercen, Inc. IN10: Berset ® 2185*, a glyoxal-based reactant from Bercen, Inc. IN11: Berset ® 2506*, a melamine-formaldehyde resin as a clear to slightly hazy liquid (69-71 wt %) from Bercen, Inc. IN12: Berset ® 2700*, a cyclic amide condensate as a clear amber solution (44-46 wt %) from Bercen, Inc. IN13: Berset ® 2720*, a ammonium zirconium carbonate as a clear to slightly hazy solution (30.5-33.5 wt %)# from Bercen, Inc. IN14: Berset ® 2750*, a potassium zirconium carbonate as a clear to slightly hazy solution (45-50 wt %) from Bercen, Inc. *supplied by #also available from Magnesium Elektron Ltd., Twickenham, England.

Matting Agents

According to a thirtieth embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises a matting agent.

Suitable matting agents are given in the table below:

MA01: a 7-8 μm grafted polymethylmethacrylate matting agent MA02: a 3-12 μm polyethylene wax MA03: Syloid C907, 7 μm silica particles from Grace-Davison MA04: Pergopak M, 6-20 μm polymethylurea particles from Albemarle MA05: Syloid SP4-9701, 11 μm silica particles from Grace-Davison MA06: PMMA 10, 10 μm polymethylmethacrylate particles from H.W. Sands MA07: PMMA 10TIGHT, 10 μm crosslinked polymethylmethacrylate particles from H.W. Sands MA08: EPOSTAR L15, 10-15 μm benzoguanine-melamine/ formaldehyde particles from Nippon Shokubai MA09: Orgasol 3501 EXD NAT1, 10 μm polyamide particles from Atochem S.A. MA10: Flo Beads EA209, 10 μm ethylene-acylic acid copolymer particles from Sumitomo, MA11: Flo Beads CL2080, 12.5 μm polyethylene particles from Sumitomo MA12: Tospearl 3120, 12 μm polydimethylsiloxane particles from Toshiba MA15 a 6 μm grafted polymethylmethacrylate matting agent

Preservative

According to a thirty-first embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, the single layer further comprises a preservative. The purpose of a preservative is to act as a bactericide and fungicide to prevent the growth of mould.

According to a thirty-second embodiment of the printable paper, according to the present invention, further comprises a salt of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one e.g. the sodium salt of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one commercially available under the trade name “Proxel” and Bronidox K.

Process for Producing a Printable Paper

Aspects of the present invention are realized by a process for producing a printable paper comprising the steps of: (i) optionally providing a water-resistant support having two sides with a subbing layer on at least one side; (ii) providing at least one side of said optionally subbed water-resistant support with a single layer having no substantial compositional variation, said single layer being applied to said optionally subbed water-resistant support as at least one wet aqueous layer in a single pass for each side of said water-resistant support, said at least one aqueous layer comprising at least one latex, at least one pigment, at least one binder and optionally at least one insolubilizing agent, wherein said latex is an anionic acrylic latex or an aliphatic polyurethane latex.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

Non-transparent microvoided axially stretched films, according to the present invention, can be used as synthetic paper for printing and other applications, as a relector in LCD displays and photovoltaic devices, as a support for imaging materials e.g. impact and non-impact (e.g. electrophotography, electrography and ink jet) receiving materials, photothermographic recording materials, substantially light-insensitive thermographic recording materials, dye sublimation printing, thermal transfer printing, etc., in security and anti-counterfeiting applications e.g. in tickets, labels, tags, an ID-card, a bank card, a legal document, banknotes and packaging and can also be integrated into packaging.

The invention is illustrated hereinafter by way of comparative examples and examples. The percentages and ratios given in these examples are by weight unless otherwise indicated.

Ingredients used in the EXAMPLES and COMPARATIVE EXAMPLES:

Slipping agents:

-   -   SL01: Tegoglide 482 a 65% by weight aqueous emulsion of a high         molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane surfactant from         Goldschmidt         Surfactants:     -   S01: Synperonic 91/5, an alcohol ethoxylate with the composition         C₉₋₁₁H₁₉₋₂₃O—(C₂H₄O)₅H from Uniqema;     -   S02: MERSOLAT®H, a sodium pentadecylsulfonate from BAYER;     -   S03: ULTRAVON®W, a sodium arysulfonate from CIBA [UVONAC];     -   S04: DR247     -   S05: Arkopon T, a sodium salt of         N-methyl-N-2-sulfoethyl-oleylamide supplied as a 40% concentrate         by Avecia [OTIK];     -   S06: Envirogem AE01 a 100% mixture of esters from Air Products     -   S07: Zonyl FS0100 a mixture of ethoxylated non-ionic         fluoro-surfactant from DuPont with the formula:         F(CF₂CF₂)₁₋₇CH₂CH₂O(CH₂CH₂O)_(y)H where y=0 to ca. 15 from         DuPont     -   POLYESTER:

Inherent MFI 270° C./ viscosity** PET- 1.20 kg [η] T_(g) nr [cm³/10 min] [dl/g] [° C.] 01 T03* polyethylene terephthalate 34.8 0.60 80.5 02 T04* polyethylene terephthalate 34.8 0.60 80.5 03 WP75# polyester of 98.5 mol % terephthalate, 0.77 80 1.5 mol % isophthalate and 100 mol % ethylene units 04 DP9990# polyester of 90 mol % terephthalate, 0.60 10 mol % isophthalate and 100 mol % ethylene units *AGFA-GEVAERT N.V. #La Seda **inherent viscosity was determined in a 0.5 g/dL solution of 60 wt % phenol and 40 wt % ortho-dichlorobenzene at 25° C. in an Ubbelohde viscometer

-   -   STYRENE-ACRYLONITRILE COPOLYMERS:

Wt % MFI at SAN- acrylo- Wt % 270° C./1.20 kg T_(g) nr nitrile styrene [mL/10 min] Mn Mw [° C.] 01 TYRIL 905* 20 80 7.1 105.2 02 TYRIL 867E* 25 75 5.8 106.5 03 SAN 140* 27.5 72.5 53.2 47,640 99,820 108.8 04 LURAN 368R# 28 72 3.9 107.3 05 TYRIL 790* 29 71 12.1 106.3 06 SAN 124* 28.5 71.5 37.9 53,940 109,350 108.1 07 LURAN 388S# 33 67 3.6 108.7 *DOW CHEMICAL #BASF MFI = Melt Flow Index

-   -   TITANIUM DIOXIDE: Renol-white/PTX 506, a masterbatch from         CLARIANT GmbH containing 65% by weight TiO₂ and 35 wt %         polyester     -   TPX DX820: a high rigidity isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene)         from MITSUI CHEMICAL

Examples 1 and 2 Production of Subbed Supports

A ca. 1100 μm thick extrudate with the composition given in Table 1 below was biaxially stretched according to the conditions given in Table 2 to provide a non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting film with a thickness of 150 μm.

TABLE 1 UVITEX EXAMPLE IPA:TPA PET02 PET04 SAN 06 TiO₂ TPX 820 OB-one nr ratio [wt %] [wt %] [wt %] [wt %] [wt %] [wt %] 1 0.0769 23.734 59.30 15.00 1.95 — 0.0260 2 0.0769 23.613 59.00 14.92 1.945 0.497 0.0259

TABLE 2 Longitudinal stretching Transversal stretch EXAMPLE force temperature speed Density nr ratio [N/mm²] [° C.] ratio [%/min] [g/mL) 1/LS1/BS1 3.3 12 110 3.5 1000 1.2 2/LS1/BS1 3.3 12 110 3.5 1000 1.2

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 and 2/LS1/BS1 were then subbed with subbing layers 1, a non-antistatic layer, subbing layer 2, an antistatic subbing layer composition, subbing layer 3, an antistatic subbing layer composition, subbing layer 4, a non-antistatic layer composition or subbing layer 5, an antistatic layer composition, on one or both sides of the support:

Subbing layer 1: coverage in dried layer [mg/m²] copolymer of 88% vinylidene chloride, 10% 79.1 methyl acrylate and 2% itaconic acid Kieselsol ® 100F, a colloidal silica from BAYER 18.6 Surfactant No. 2, an anionic surfactant 0.4 Surfactant No. 3, an anionic surfactant 1.9

Subbing layer 2: coverage in dried layer [mg/m²] poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene sulphonic 2.58 acid (1:2.46 by weight) Bronidox K 0.02 copolymer of 88% vinylidene chloride, 10% methyl 147.3 acrylate and 2% itaconic acid stabilized with surfactant S05 Kieselsol ® 100F, a colloidal silica from BAYER 16.4 sorbitol [24.7*] Surfactant S02, an anionic surfactant 0.74 *will substantially evaporate/sublime during the drying process

Subbing layer 3: wt % solids coverage in in coating dried layer dispersion [mg/m²] poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene 6.01  2.838 sulphonic acid (1:2.46 by weight) sorbitol 28.06 [13*]   Proxel Ultra 5 0.03 0.01 Surfactant S01, a non-ionic surfactant 1.66 0.78 a terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid, 5-sulfo- 64.24 30.2  isophthalic acid, ethylene glycol (53:40:7:100 molar ratio) copolyester *will substantially evaporate/sublime during the drying process

Subbing layer 4: coverage in dried layer [mg/m²] copolymer of 88% vinylidene chloride, 10% methyl 80.85 acrylate and 2% itaconic acid stabilized with surfactant S05 Kieselsol ® 100F, a colloidal silica from BAYER 18.75 Surfactant S02, an anionic surfactant 0.4

Subbing layer 5: wt % coverage solids in in coating dried layer dispersion [mg/m²] poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene 1.30 4.69 sulphonic acid (1:2.46 by weight) copolymer of 88% vinylidene chloride, 10% 82.16 294.54 methyl acrylate and 2% itaconic acid stabilized with surfactant S05 Kieselsol 100F-30, a colloidal silca from BAYER 9.13 32.72 Surfactant S02, an anionic surfactant 0.30 0.11 glucose 6.94 [24.9*] Proxel Ultra 5 0.005 0.03 sorbitol 0.16 [0.57*] *will substantially evaporate/sublime during the drying process

Optimalization of the Receiving Layer Composition Example 3 Screening of Different Latexes

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 1 was coated with the compositions in Table 3 in the case of EXAMPLES 3/1 to 3/3 together with small quantities of Tego Glide 482, a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane from Goldschmidt, and the surfactant S04; in the case of EXAMPLES 3/4 to 3/8 just with quantities of the surfactant S04; in the case of EXAMPLES 3/9 to 3/19 with a mixture of two surfactants (S04 and S05); in the case of EXAMPLES 3/20 to 3/28 with a mixture of two surfactants (S05 and S06); in the case of EXAMPLES 3/26; in the case of EXAMPLES 3/27 to 3/31 without further additives; and in the case of EXAMPLES 3/32 to 3/38 with a mixture of two surfactants (S05 and S06).

TABLE 3 Porous Wt ratio pigment Latex porous printing properties Example coverage coverage pigment ballpen dry time nr nr [mg/m²] nr [g/m²] to latex writability [min] set-off mottle 3/1 PP21 760 01 2000 0.380 repulsion in centre 3/2 PP21 760 PAZ 2000 0.380 v. good 3/3 PP21 760 02 2000 0.380 good 3/4 PP21 762 01 2031 0.375 good 3/5 PP21 762 02 2031 0.375 repulsion in centre 3/6 PP21 762 MS16826 2031 0.375 good 5 no 3/7 PP21 762 MS5291 2031 0.375 repulsion in centre 3/8 PP21 762 L23 2031 0.375 — 5 no 3/9 PP21 762 01 2031 0.375 repulsion strong yes in centre 3/10 PP21 2031 01 2031 1.00 good no slight 3/11 PP21 1500 01 2031 0.739 moderate no slight density 3/12 PP21 762 L24 2031 0.375 v. yes strong moderate density 3/13# PP21 1500 L24 2031 0.739 good no slight 3/14 PP21 762 L23 2031 0.375 repulsion no slight in centre 3/15# PP21 1500 L23 2031 0.739 repulsion no no in centre 3/16 PP21 762 04 2031 0.375 repulsion strong yes in centre 3/17 PP21 1500 04 2031 v. good yes yes 3/18 PP21 762 05 2031 0.375 repulsion strong yes in centre 3/19 PP21 1500 05 2031 0.739 repulsion no no in centre 3/20 PP21 990 01 2010 0.491 repulsion slight yes in centre 3/21* PP21 990 L23 2010 0.491 no slight 3/22 PP21 990 06 2010 0.491 slight yes 3/23 PP21 990 07 2010 0.491 slight yes 3/24 PP21 1500 MS60054 2031 0.739 yes yes 3/25 PP21 762 05 2031 0.375 yes slight 3/26 PP21 1500 05 2031 0.739 no 3/27## PP21 B01 no slight 3/28** PP21 B01 no no 3/29*** PP21 B01 no no 3/30# PP21 750 MS16357 2000 0.375 yes 3/31# PP21 1500 MS16357 2000 0.750 no 3/32 PP21 750 CP3077 2000 0.375 yes no 3/33 PP21 750 CE1611 2000 0.375 yes slight 3/34 PP21 1500 CE1611 2000 0.750 yes no 3/35 PP21 1000 08 2000 0.500 slight yes 3/36 PP21 1000 09 2000 0.500 slight yes 3/37 PP21 1000 10 2000 0.500 strong yes 3/38**** PP21 1000 10 2000 0.500 v. no strong #poor adhesion *not scratch-resistant PAZ = MS16686 ##hardened with 100% glyoxal at pH 4 **hardened with 50% tetramethyl orthosilicate at pH 4 ***hardened with 100% tetramethyl orthosilicate at pH 4 ****hardened with 0.999 g/m² MS15262 MS16357 POVAL R1130

A lack of adhesion between the support and the single layer is remediable by adapting the modifying the subbing layer or by providing a subbing layer comprising the plurality of subbing layers required to realize adhesion between the support and the single layer.

Example 4 Screening of Different latexes

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 3 was coated with the compositions in Table 4 with 0.04 g/m² of the surfactant S07.

TABLE 4 Porous pigment Latex Wt ratio Binder cover- cover- porous cover- age age pigment age Example nr nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] to latex nr [g/m²] 4/1 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 0.75 — — 4/2 PP21 2.0 L04 2.0 1.0 — — 4/3 PP21 2.0 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/4 PP21 1.5 L32 2.0 0.75 — — 4/5 PP21 2.0 L32 2.0 1.0 — — 4/6 PP21 2.0 L32 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/7 PP21 1.5 L20 2.0 0.75 — — 4/8 PP21 2.0 L20 2.0 1.0 — — 4/9 PP21 2.0 L20 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/10 PP21 1.5 L19 2.0 0.75 — — 4/11 PP21 2.0 L19 2.0 1.0 — — 4/12 PP21 2.0 L19 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/13 PP21 1.5 L22 2.0 0.75 — — 4/14 PP21 2.0 L22 2.0 1.0 — — 4/15 PP21 2.0 L22 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/16 PP21 2.0 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/17 PP21 2.0 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/18 PP21 1.5 04 2.0 0.75 — — 4/19 PP21 2.0 04 2.0 1.0 — — 4/20 PP21 2.0 04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/21 PP21 1.5 L16 2.0 0.75 — — 4/22 PP21 2.0 L16 2.0 1.0 — — 4/23 PP21 2.0 L16 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/24 PP21 1.5 L17 2.0 0.75 — — 4/25 PP21 2.0 L17 2.0 1.0 — — 4/26 PP21 2.0 L17 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/27 PP21 1.5 L18 2.0 0.75 — — 4/28 PP21 2.0 L18 2.0 1.0 — — 4/29 PP21 2.0 L18 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 4/30* PP21 2.2 L21 2.14 0.973 B01  0.22 *MMA01 in concentration of 0.1 g/m²

Printing tests were carried out on a Heidelberg GTO46 printing press with a K+E800 ink and as fountain 4% AGFA FS330 with 10% isopropanol. The results of qualitative printability tests are summarized in Table 5.

TABLE 5 IGT tests Printing tests drying Wt ratio Dot time to porous gain avoid Example pigment ballpen Tape test 50% set-off nr Latex to latex writability dry [10 min] mottle screen [s] 4/1 L04 0.75 repulsion OK yes 24 >58 in centre 4/2 L04 1.0 repulsion cohesive no 25 48 in centre break 4/3 L04 1.0 repulsion OK no 25 31 in centre 4/4 L32 0.75 repulsion OK yes 26 31 in centre 4/5 L32 1.0 repulsion OK slight 25 31 in centre 4/6 L32 1.0 good OK no 25 9 4/7 L20 0.75 repulsion cohesive yes 26 in centre break 4/8 L20 1.0 repulsion delaminates yes 25 in centre/cracking 4/9 L20 1.0 repulsion OK yes 24 in centre/ cracking 4/10 L19 0.75 good delaminates 4/11 L19 1.0 good delaminates 4/12 L19 1.0 repulsion delaminates in centre 4/13 L22 0.75 repulsion OK in centre/ cracking 4/14 L22 1.0 repulsion cohesive in centre break 4/15 L22 1.0 repulsion OK in centre 4/16 L04 1.0 OK no 25 4/17 L04 1.0 OK no 26 4/18 04 0.75 OK strong 29 4/19 04 1.0 slight strong 27 cohesive break 4/20 04 1.0 OK no 27 4/21 L16 0.75 OK slight 28 4/22 L16 1.0 strong no 26 cohesive break 4/23 L16 1.0 slight no 25 cohesive break 4/24 L17 0.75 delaminates slight 29 4/25 L17 1.0 delaminates strong 27 4/26 L17 1.0 OK slight 27 4/27 L18 0.75 delaminates strong 27 4/28 L18 1.0 delaminates no 27 4/29 L18 1.0 strong no 27 cohesive break 4/30* L21 0.973 OK no 27 *Linimark evaluation of scratch resistance carried out with a Roberta apparatus gave a force before scratching was observed of 31 mN

Table 6 summarize the findings of EXAMPLES 3 and 4 in respect of the choice of latex for use in the single layer coated on at least on side of an optionally subbed support.

TABLE 6 latex nr 01 Joncryl BASF REFERENCE; pH 8.5; poor mottle; no FLX5000 alkali resistance; water resistant [fensterklar] 02 Joncryl BASF cf. FLX 5000; pH 8.3; ammonia- 8078 neutralized; poor mottle; non alkali- resistant; poorer drying than REF; poor adhesion 03 Joncryl BASF pH 8.5; better alkali-resistance; poor FLX5010 mottle; water resistant 04 Joncryl BASF cf. FLX 5000; pH 7.8; partially 8050 neutralized resin; with as emulsifier a low-molecular-weight alkali-soluble styrene/acrylate copolymer; poor mottle; non alkali-resistant 05 Hycar Dow pH 6.0; cf. FLX 5000; poor mottle; non PC84 Chemical alkali-resistant; self-crosslinking 06 Carboset Goodrich PH 5.5, 6.5; cf. FLX 5000; poor GA2364 mottle; non alkali-resistant 07 Joncryl BASF pH 7.9; self-crosslinking; cf. FLX 8385 5000; poor mottle; no alkali resistance 08 Enorax Collano pH 4.5; very good (better than FLX PU950 5000); no longer commercially available 09 wac-17XC Takamatu pH 7, 9; cf. FLX 5000; poor mottle; no Oil & Fat alkali resistance Co. Ltd 10 Crom- Cromogenia- pH 8.3; cf. FLX 5000; better mottle; elastic units no alkali resistance C4480 S.A. 11 Mowilith Clariant pH 5, 7; cf. FLX 5010; no alkali DM 2452 resistance 12 Wellpur Van Camp pH 4, 6; no mottle; alkali resistant; FM10C Chemicals layer appears flocked; rough to touch 13 Neorez Avecia pH 8.3; cf. FLX 5000; no alkali R989 resistance; mottle better 14 Jetsize Eka Nobel cf. FLX 5010; better alkali- CE225 resistance; poor mottle

Example 5 Screening of Different Porous pigments

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 1 was coated with the compositions in Table 7 in the case of EXAMPLES 5/1 to 5/15 together with small quantities of Tego Glide 482, a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane from Goldschmidt, and surfactant S04; in the case of EXAMPLES 5/16 to 5/xx with

TABLE 7 Porous Wt ratio pigment Latex porous printing properties Example coverage coverage pigment ballpen dry time set- nr nr [mg/m²] nr [g/m²] to latex writability [min] off mottle 5/1 PP21 76 01 203 0.374 repulsion in centre 5/2 — — 01 203 — no 5/3 PP13 76 01 203 0.374 good 5/4 OP03 76 01 203 0.374 v. poor 5/5 OP04 76 01 203 0.374 poor 5/6 OP07 76 01 203 0.374 poor 5/7 OP08 76 01 203 0.374 poor 5/8 OP11 76 01 203 0.374 good 5/9 PP21 760 01 2000 0.380 repulsion in centre 5/10 PP21 1500 01 2000 0.750 repulsion in centre 5/11 PP21 2000 01 2000 1.00  denser 5 no but repulsion in centre 5/12 OP13 760 01 2000 0.380 no 5/13 PP21 375 01 2000 0.188 v. poor OP13 375 0.188 5/14 OP13 760 01 2000 0.380 v. poor

Example 6 Screening of Different Porous Pigments

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 3 was coated with the compositions in Table 8 with in the case of EXAMPLES 6/1 to 6/38 with a mixture of two surfactants (S05 and S06).

TABLE 8 Wt ratio Ex- Porous pigment Latex porous Binder ample coverage coverage pigment coverage nr nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] to latex nr [g/m²] 6/1 PP21 1.5 L05 2.0 0.75 — — 6/2 PP21 0.75 L05 2.0 0.375 — — 6/3 PP21 0.75 L05 2.0 0.375 — — OP06 0.25 6/4 PP21 0.75 L05 2.0 0.375 — — OP06 0.50 6/5 PP21 0.75 L05 2.0 0.375 — — OP06 0.75 6/6 OP06 0.75 L05 2.0 — — — 6/7 OP06 0.25 L05 2.0 — — — 6/8 PP21 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/9 PP21 2.0 L01 2.0 1.0 — — 6/10 PP01 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/11 PP01 2.0 L01 2.0 1.0 — — 6/12 PP02 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/13 PP02 2.0 L01 2.0 1.0 — — 6/14 PP21 1.0 L01 2.0 0.5 — — 6/15 PP21 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/16 PP21 2.0 L01 2.0 1.00 — — 6/17 OP01 1.0 L01 2.0 0.5 — — 6/18 OP01 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/19 OP01 2.0 L01 2.0 1.00 — — 6/20 OP02 1.0 L01 2.0 0.5 — — 6/21 OP02 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/22 OP02 2.0 L01 2.0 1.00 — — 6/23 PP28 1.0 L01 2.0 0.5 — — 6/24 PP28 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/25 PP28 2.0 L01 2.0 1.00 — — 6/26 PP21 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/27 PP21 1.0 L01 2.0 0.75 — — PP28 0.5 6/28 PP21 0.75 L01 2.0 0.75 — — PP28 0.75 6/29 PP21 0.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — PP28 1.0 6/30 PP28 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/31 PP21 1.0 L01 2.0 0.75 — — PP02 0.5 6/32 PP21 0.75 L01 2.0 0.75 — — PP02 0.75 6/33 PP21 0.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — PP02 1.0 6/34 PP02 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/35 PP21 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/36 PP15 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/37 PP12 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — — 6/38 PP28 1.5 L01 2.0 0.75 — —

Printing tests were carried out on a A.B. Dick D9890 printing press with a K+E800 ink and as fountain 4% Emerald Premium with 10% isopropanol and an IGT Global Standard Tester 2. The results are summarized in Table 9.

TABLE 9 Weight Printing tests IGT tests ratio Dot penetration time to porous gain test penetration avoid Example Porous pigment 50% length test set-off nr pigments to latex set-off mottle screen [mm] OD [s] 6/1 PP21 0.75 no yes 6/2 PP21 0.375 v. yes strong 6/3 PP21 0.375 strong yes OP06 6/4 PP21 0.375 yes yes OP06 6/5 PP21 0.375 slight yes OP06 6/6 OP06 — very yes strong 6/7 OP06 — yes yes 6/8 PP21 0.75 yes 125.0 6/9 PP21 1.0 slight 103.0 6/10 PP01 0.75 slight 88.7 6/11 PP01 1.0 slight 89.7 6/12 PP02 0.75 slight 106.3 6/13 PP02 1.0 ca. no 94.3 6/14 PP21 0.5 yes 6/15 PP21 0.75 yes 6/16 PP21 1.00 slight 6/17 OP01 0.5 v. ? strong 6/18 OP01 0.75 v. ? strong 6/19 OP01 1.00 v. ? strong 6/20 OP02 0.5 strong yes 6/21 OP02 0.75 strong no 6/22 OP02 1.00 strong no 6/23 PP28 0.5 slight 6/24 PP28 0.75 no 6/25 PP28 1.00 no 6/26 PP21 0.75 yes yes 111.0 6/27 PP21 0.75 yes no 90.0 PP28 6/28 PP21 0.75 no no 84.3 PP28 6/29 PP21 0.75 no no 87.3 PP28 6/30 PP28 0.75 no no 76.3 6/31 PP21 0.75 no yes 124.3 PP02 6/32 PP21 0.75 no slight 110.3 PP02 6/33 PP21 0.75 no slight 108.3 PP02 6/34 PP02 0.75 no slight 104.3 6/35 PP21 0.75 no yes 121.3 6/36 PP15 0.75 slight yes 142.0 6/37 PP12 0.75 slight yes 120.0 6/38 PP28 0.75 slight yes 131.0

Replacement of PP21 with PP28 (submicron filler from Nippon Kasei) brings about a reduction in mottle, which is already evident at a coverage of 0.5 g/m², and also more rapid drying as seen by the strongly reduced penetration length in the results with the IGT Global Standard Tester 2. Replacement of P21 with PP02 (Sunsphere H33) also brings about a reduction in mottle, but less than with PP28.

Example 7 Combination of an Inorganic Porous Pigment and an Organic Polymeric Porous Pigment

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 3 was coated with the compositions in Table 10 with 0.04 g/m² of the surfactant S07.

TABLE 10 Porous pigment Latex Wt ratio Binder cover- cover- porous cover- age age pigment age Example nr nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] to latex nr [g/m²] 7/1 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 0.75 B01 0.2 7/2 PP21 1.75 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 7/3 PP21 2.0 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 7/4 PP21 1.0 L04 2.0 0.75 B01 0.2 PP28 0.5 7/6 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 0.875 B01 0.2 PP28 0.25 7/7 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 PP28 0.5 7/8 PP21 1.0 L04 2.0 0.75 B01 0.2 PP34 0.5 7/10 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 0.875 B01 0.2 PP34 0.25 7/11 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 PP34 0.5 7/12 PP21 1.0 L04 2.0 0.75 B01 0.2 PP33 0.5 7/14 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 0.875 B01 0.2 PP33 0.25 7/15 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 PP33 0.5 7/16 PP21 1.0 L04 2.0 0.75 B01 0.2 PP32 0.5 7/18 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 0.875 B01 0.2 PP32 0.25 7/19 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 1.0 B01 0.2 PP32 0.5

Printing tests were carried out on a Heidelberg GTO46 printing press with a K+E800 ink and as fountain 4% AGFA FS330 with 10% isopropanol and an IGT Global Standard Tester 2. The results are summarized in Table 11.

TABLE 11 Weight Printing tests IGT tests ratio Dot penetration time to porous gain test penetration avoid Example Porous pigment scratch 50% length test set-off nr pigments to latex resistance mottle screen [mm] OD [s] 7/1 PP21 0.75 not OK no 29 123.0 0.37 >58 7/2 PP21 1.0 not OK no 29 106.0 0.50 24 7/3 PP21 1.0 not OK no 28 90.0 0.60 9 7/4 PP21 0.75 OK v. good 28 93.0 0.49 >58 PP28 7/6 PP21 0.875 not OK v. good 29 97.0 0.51 31 PP28 7/7 PP21 1.0 not OK v. good 28 83.0 0.61 24 PP28 7/8 PP21 0.75 OK no 29 95.0 0.43 >58 PP34 7/10 PP21 0.875 not OK no 28 92.0 0.50 39 PP34 7/11 PP21 1.0 not OK v. good 28 82.0 0.55 24 PP34 7/12 PP21 0.75 OK no 29 114.0 0.43 >58 PP33 7/14 PP21 0.875 OK no 28 97.0 0.48 39 PP33 7/15 PP21 1.0 not OK no 28 92.0 0.57 18 PP33 7/16 PP21 0.75 OK no 30 114.0 0.42 >58 PP32 7/18 PP21 0.875 ca. OK no 29 105.0 0.50 24 PP32 7/19 PP21 1.0 OK no 28 99.0 0.52 18 PP32

There was no significant difference in dot gain or ink acceptance. Furthermore, no set-off was observed and there was no difference in ink adhesion. Moreover, the papers of EXAMPLES 7/4, 7/7, 7/8 and 7/14 gave very uniform ink layers. PP28 (Submicron filler from Nippon Kasei) and PP34 have a higher absorption speed than PP21 and PP28 (Submicron filler from Nippon Kasei) had the highest absorption capacity of the inorganic porous pigments evaluated.

Example 8 Combination of Porous and Opacifying Pigments

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 3 was coated with the compositions in Table 12 with Latex 04 with different combinations of porous and opacifying pigments.

TABLE 12 Porous pigment Latex Binder Surfactants Example coverage coverage coverage coverage nr nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] 8/1 PP21 2.0 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 FLX5010 8/2 PP21 1.5 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 8/3 PP21 1.0 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 8/4 PP21 0.5 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 8/5 — — L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 8/6 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP05 0.5 8/7 PP21 1.0 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP05 1.0 8/8 PP21 0.5 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP05 1.5 8/9 P05 2.0 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 8/10 PP21 1.5 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP10 0.5 8/11 PP21 1.0 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP10 1.0 8/12 PP21 0.5 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP10 1.5 8/13 OP10 2.0 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 8/14 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 PP25 0.5 8/15 PP21 1.0 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 PP25 1.0 8/16 PP21 0.5 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 PP25 1.5 8/17 PP25 2.0 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 8/18 PP21 1.5 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP09 0.5 8/19 PP21 1.0 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP09 1.0 8/20 PP21 0.5 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 OP09 1.5 8/21 OP09 2.0 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 8/22 PP21 1.5 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 PP26 0.5 8/23 PP21 1.0 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 PP26 1.0 8/24 PP21 0.5 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 PP26 1.5 8/25 PP26 2.0 L04 2.2 B01 0.20 S07 0.01

These papers were then subjected to printing tests using a Heidelberg GTO46 printing press with a K+E 123w ink and a fountain of 4% AGFA FS330 with 10% isopropanol. The resulting prints were evaluated on the basis of tape tests, powder tests, dot-gain evaluated with a Gretag Spectroeye densitometer, print mottle and scratch resistance with the results being given in Table 13 below.

TABLE 13 IGT test Tape Dot time to Pigment test gain Surface avoid Example coverage dry 50% energy print Set- set-off nr. nr [g/m²] [10 min] screen [mN/m] mottle off [s] 8/1 PP21 2.0 31 <36 no no 9 FLX5010 8/2 PP21 1.5 33 <36 no no 48 8/3 PP21 1.0 36 <36 yes no >58 8/4 PP21 0.5 36 38-40 strong strong >>58 8/5 — — 29 36 strong moderate 8/6 PP21 1.5 33 36 yes no OP05 0.5 8/7 PP21 1.0 35 42 strong no OP05 1.0 8/8 PP21 0.5 36 36 strong no OP05 1.5 8/9 OP05 2.0 37 42 strong no 8/10 PP21 1.5 34 <36 moderate no OP10 0.5 8/11 PP21 1.0 36 <36 yes no OP10 1.0 8/12 PP21 0.5 38 36 strong yes OP10 1.5 8/13 OP10 2.0 15 <<36 v. v. strong strong 8/14 PP21 1.5 32 <36 no no 24 PP25 0.5 8/15 PP21 1.0 34 <36 slight no >58 PP25 1.0 8/16 PP21 0.5 36 36 yes no >>58 PP25 1.5 8/17 PP25 2.0 33 <36 strong yes >>58 8/18 PP21 1.5 33 <36 yes no OP09 0.5 8/19 PP21 1.0 34 36 strong no OP09 1.0 8/20 PP21 0.5 36 42 strong strong OP09 1.5 8/21 OP09 2.0 39 36 v. v. strong strong 8/22 PP21 1.5 31 <36 slight no >58 PP26 0.5 8/23 PP21 1.0 32 38 yes no >>58 PP26 1.0 8/24 PP21 0.5 34 36 strong no >>58 PP26 1.5 8/25 PP26 2.0 32 36 strong no >>58

Decreasing the PP21-content increase mottle and dot gain with at PP21-contents below 1 g/m² poor drying, set-off and poor ink adhesion.

Replacement of PP21 with OP05 (Jetcoat 30, CaCO₃) resulted in a strong increase in print mottle and poorer ink adhesion, although Jetcoat 30 provides a contribution to the ink-drying process, allbeit small.

Replacement of PP21 with OP10 (Hydragloss 90, china clay/kaolin) resulted in a strong increase in print mottle and poorer ink adhesion. Moreover, OP10 provided no contribution to the ink-drying process.

Replacement of PP21 with PP25 [Micral 9400, [Al(OH)₃] resulted in an improvement in ink adhesion and a slight increase in mottle. Moreover, PP25 contributed to the drying process, although less strongly than PP21 as shown by the complete replacement of PP21 with PP25 resulting in poor drying and strong mottle.

Replacement of PP21 with OP09 (Snowtex ST40, colloidal silica) resulted in a strong increase in print mottle and poorer ink adhesion. Moreover, OP09 provided no contribution to the ink-drying process.

Replacement of PP21 with PP26 (Digitex 1000, kaolin) had no effect on the mottle and improved the drying and ink adhesion.

Example 9 Screening of Different Water-Soluble Binders

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 3 was coated with the compositions in Table 14 with Latex 03 and Latex 04 with different binders to investigate whether this might reduce the print mottle.

TABLE 14 Porous pigment Latex Binder Surfactants Example coverage coverage coverage coverage nr nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] 9/1 PP21 2.2 L03 2.2 — — S07 0.01 Dispercoll U53 9/2 PP21 2.0 L03 2.0 — — S07 0.01 9/3 PP21 2.2 L03 2.2 B01 0.22 S07 0.01 9/4 PP21 2.0 L03 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 9/5 PP21 2.0 L03 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 9/6 PP21 2.2 L03 2.2 B02 0.22 S07 0.01 9/7 PP21 2.0 L03 2.0 B02 0.60 S07 0.01 9/8 PP21 2.2 L03 2.2 B03 0.22 S07 0.01 9/9 PP21 2.2 L03 2.2 B04 0.22 S07 0.01 9/10 PP21 2.0 L03 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 IN02 0.20 9/11 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 — — S07 0.01 FLX5010 9/12 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 S07 0.01 9/13 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 S07 0.01 9/14 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B02 0.22 S07 0.01 9/15 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B02 0.22 S07 0.01 9/16 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B02 0.33 S07 0.01 9/17 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B02 0.44 S07 0.01 9/18 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B02 0.50 S07 0.01 9/19 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B03 0.22 S07 0.01 9/20 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B04 0.22 S07 0.01

These papers were then subjected to printing tests using a Heidelberg GTO46 printing press with a K+E 123w ink and a fountain of 4% Emerald Premium with 10% isopropanol. The resulting prints were evaluated on the basis of tape tests, powder tests, dot-gain evaluated with a Gretag Spectroeye densitometer, print mottle and scratch resistance with the results being given in Table 15 below.

TABLE 15 Binder Dot gain Example coverage Tape test Powder 50% print Scratch nr. nr [g/m²] dry 10 min test screen mottle resistance 9/1 — — strong OK 20 no OK Dispercoll cohesive U53 break 9/2 — — strong OK yes OK cohesive break 9/3 B01 0.22 strong light 22 no OK cohesive break 9/4 B01 0.20 OK powdery 33 no OK 9/5 B01 0.20 light powdery no OK cohesive break 9/6 B02 0.22 strong light 20 yes OK cohesive break 9/7 B02 0.20 strong OK 31 no OK cohesive break 9/8 B03 0.22 strong OK 22 no OK cohesive break 9/9 B04 0.22 strong OK 22 no OK cohesive break 9/10 B01 0.20 OK OK slight OK IN02 0.20 FLX5010 — — light light 23 no OK 9/11 cohesive break 9/12 B01 0.22 OK OK 19 no OK 9/13 B01 0.22 — — 26 no OK 9/14 B02 0.22 strong OK 23 yes OK cohesive break 9/15 B02 0.22 — — 27 no OK 9/16 B02 0.33 — — 27 no OK 9/17 B02 0.44 — — 28 no OK 9/18 B02 0.50 — — 28 no OK 9/19 B03 0.22 OK OK 24 no OK 9/20 B04 0.22 OK OK 24 no OK

Surprisingly it was found that the papers with L03 as latex exhibited strong cohesive fracture in the receiving layer, whether or not a binder was used except when a combination of B01 and IN02 was used. The papers with L04 as latex only exhibited strong cohesive fracture when a polyvinyl alcohol with a low degree of hydrolysis, e.g. 74%, was used as a binder and the use polyvinyl alcohol with a degree of hydrolysis of at least 87-88% improved the resistance of the receiving layer to cohesive fracture. Increasing the concentration of B02 was not possible due to foaming and high viscosities.

Example 10 Printing Performance with Added Binder and/or Hardeners

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 3 was coated with the compositions in Table 16 including a binder to improve reduce the print mottle.

TABLE 16 Porous matting pigment Latex Binder agent Surfactants Example coverage coverage coverage coverage coverage nr nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] 10/1 PP21 2.0 L01 2.0 B01 0.2 MA01 0.06 S05 0.02 FLX5000 S06 0.04 10/2 PP21 3.0 L01 3.0 B01 0.3 MA01 0.06 S05 0.02 FLX5000 S06 0.04 10/3 PP21 2.0 L01 2.0 B01 0.2 MA01 0.06 S05 0.02 FLX5000 S06 0.04 10/4 PP21 2.0 L01 2.0 B01 0.2 MA01 0.06 S05 0.02 FLX5000 S06 0.04 10/5 PP21 2.0 L03 2.0 B01 0.2 MA01 0.06 S05 0.02 Dispercoll S06 0.04 U53 10/6 PP21 2.0 L01 2.0 B01 0.2 MA01 0.06 S05 0.02 FLX5000 S06 0.04

These papers were then subjected to printing tests using an A.B. Dick 9860 with a K+E 123w ink and a fountain of 4% Emerald Premium in isopropanol. During the printing first the quantity of fountain was varied for a constant quantity of ink and then the quantity of fountain was kept constant and the quantity of ink varied. The resulting prints were evaluated on the basis of solid optical densities and dot gain with a Gretag Spectroeye densitometer with the results being given in Table 17. Furthermore, print penetration and drying time tests were carried out on the papers with an IGT Global Standard Tester 2, with the results also being given in Table 17.

TABLE 17 Example nr 10/1 10/2 10/3 10/4 10/5 10/6 Fountain environment optimum 45% 45% Dg 45% Dg 45% Dg 45% 45% Dg Dg Dg window below 10% 10% 10%  5% 10% 10% window above 20% 15% 15% 15% 30% 30% Ink environment optimum ink setting 10 10 10 8 window below 0 0 0 4 window above 10 5 5 8 dot gain for 50% screen at optimum setting Gretag Spectroeye 26% 23% 24% 25% 22% 28% mottle slight slight v. slight v. slight no v. slight print penetration test with IGT Global Standard Tester 2 length of ink streak 89.3 90.7 90.3 91.3 89.0 90.3 on rotating drum [mm] optical density 0.59 0.67 0.56 0.57 0.49 0.56 set-off test with Huber set-off ink with IGT Global Standard Tester 2 drying time [s] 8 >11 >11 7 5 5

Using the paper of EXAMPLE 10/1 as a reference, the paper of EXAMPLE 10/2 with an increased layer thickness gave a marginally improved set-off performance and significantly reduced dot gain. The paper of EXAMPLE 10/3 with Zonyl FS0100, S07, as a surfactant rather than a mixture of surfactants exhibited similar set-off properties, but exhibited significantly reduced dot gain. However, the paper of EXAMPLE 10/4 with double the quantity of surfactant S07 resulted in a further reduction in dot gain, but at the expense of coating defects. Adding the silica and binder together, as in the paper of EXAMPLE 10/6, had no effect on the printing performance.

A comparison of the printing performance of the paper of EXAMPLE 10/5 with that of EXAMPLE 10/1 shows that the change in the latex from Latex 01 to Latex 03 resulted in a significant improvement: a reduction in set-off, i.e. in drying speed together with a significant reduction in dot gain.

Example 11

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 3 was coated with the compositions in Table 18 including a binder to improve reduce the print mottle.

TABLE 18 Porous pigment Latex Binder Surfactant Example coverage coverage coverage coverage nr nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] 11/1 PP21 2.6 L04 2.6 B01 0.26 S07 0.01 FLX5010 11/2 PP21 3.0 L04 3.0 B01 0.30 S07 0.01 FLX5010 11/3 PP21 4.0 L04 4.0 B01 0.40 S07 0.01 FLX5010 11/4 PP21 2.0 L04 2.0 B01 0.20 S07 0.01 FLX5010 11/5 PP21 2.6 L03 2.6 B01 0.26 S07 0.01 Dispercoll U53 11/6 PP21 3.0 L03 3.0 B01 0.30 S07 0.01 Dispercoll U53 11/7 PP21 4.0 L03 4.0 0.40 S07 0.01 Dispercoll U53 11/8 PP21 2.0 L03 2.0 0.20 S07 0.01 Dispercoll U53

Print penetration tests were carried out on the papers of EXAMPLES 11/1 to 11/8 with an IGT Global Standard Tester 2, with the results also being given in Table 19.

TABLE 19 Example nr 11/1 11/2 11/3 11/4 11/5 11/6 11/7 11/8 print penetration test with IGT Global Standard Tester 2 length of ink streak 109.7 113.3 89.7 100.3 83.3 88 81 85.7 on rotating drum [mm] optical density 0.54 0.51 0.66 0.55 0.60 0.69 0.80 0.53

The results in Table xx clearly show the more rapid penetration of ink into layers containing Latex 03, Dispercoll U53, compared to comparable layers containing Latex 04, JONCRYL FLX5010.

Example 12 Evaluation of Matting Agents

The non-transparent microvoided biaxially stretched self-supporting films 1/LS1/BS1 coated with subbing layer 3 was coated with the compositions in Table 20 including different matting agents to improve the transport properties of the papers.

TABLE 20 Porous matting pigment Latex Binder agent Surfactants Example coverage coverage coverage coverage coverage nr nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] nr [g/m²] 12/1 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 — — S07 0.01 FLX5010 12/2 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 — — S07 0.01 12/3 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 — — S07 0.01 12/4 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.05 S07 0.01 12/5 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.1 S07 0.01 12/6 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.1 S07 0.01 12/7 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.1 S07 0.01 12/8 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.1 S07 0.01 12/9 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.15 S07 0.01 12/10 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.20 S07 0.01 12/11 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.25 S07 0.01 12/12 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.25 S07 0.01 12/13 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.30 S07 0.01 12/14 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA01 0.5 S07 0.01 12/15 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA02 0.1 S07 0.01 12/16 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA03 0.1 S07 0.01 12/17 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA04 0.1 S07 0.01 12/18 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA05 0.1 S07 0.01 12/19 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA06 0.1 S07 0.01 12/20 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA07 0.1 S07 0.01 12/21 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA08 0.1 S07 0.01 12/22 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA09 0.1 S07 0.01 12/23 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA10 0.04 S07 0.01 12/24 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA10 0.06 S07 0.01 12/25 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA10 0.08 S07 0.01 12/26 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA10 0.1 S07 0.01 12/27 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA10 0.1 S07 0.01 12/28 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA11 0.1 S07 0.01 12/29 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA12 0.04 S07 0.01 12/30 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA12 0.06 S07 0.01 12/31 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA12 0.08 S07 0.01 12/32 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA12 0.1 S07 0.01 12/33 PP21 2.2 L04 2.2 B01 0.22 MA12 0.1 S07 0.01

The papers were evaluated in a series of tests to establish the physical effect of the matting agents on the surface smoothness and the frictional coefficient between sheets. Surface roughness was determined by Bekk tests and Perth-O-meter measurements.

Furthermore the scratch resistance was evaluated qualitatively using a nail test and quantitatively using the Linimark evaluation method with a Roberta apparatus giving the threshold force at and above which scratching was observed. The results are summarized in Table 21 below.

TABLE 21 matting R_(a) from agent Bekk Pert-O- Static Scratch resistance tests Example coverage test meter frictional nail Lini-mark Lini-mark nr nr [g/m²] [sec] [μm] coefficient test wet [mN] dry [mN] 12/1 — — 2285 0.36 0.76 OK 12/2 — — 1205 — — ca. OK 12/3 — — 1701 ca. OK 12/4 MA01 0.05 1175 — — ca. OK 12/5 MA01 0.1 1407 0.34 0.61 OK 12/6 MA01 0.1 1147 — — ca. OK 12/7 MA01 0.1 1406 ca. OK 12/8 MA01 0.1 1737 OK 21 33 12/9 MA01 0.15 1108 — — ca. OK 12/10 MA01 0.20 1187 — — ca. OK 12/11 MA01 0.25 1025 0.50 0.61 OK 12/12 MA01 0.25 1061 — — ca. OK 12/13 MA01 0.30 1009 — — ca. OK 12/14 MA01 0.5 854 0.48 0.55 ca. OK 12/15 MA02 0.1 409 0.37 0.69 v. good 12/16 MA03 0.1 1153 0.33 0.78 not OK 12/17 MA04 0.1 152.3 0.58 0.84 not OK 12/18 MA05 0.1 423 ca. OK 12/19 MA06 0.1 258 ca. OK 12/20 MA07 0.1 685 ca, OK 12/21 MA08 0.1 291 OK 12/22 MA09 0.1 566 OK 12/23 MA10 0.04 462 OK 15 20 12/24 MA10 0.06 392 OK 15 26 12/25 MA10 0.08 245 OK 17 29 12/26 MA10 0.1 491 OK 12/27 MA10 0.1 228 OK 19 34 12/28 MA11 0.1 816 ca. OK 12/29 MA12 0.04 116 ca. OK 12/30 MA12 0.06 61 ca. OK 12/31 MA12 0.08 49 ca. OK 12/32 MA12 0.1 170 OK 12/33 MA12 0.1 34 ca. OK

The Bekk tests showed that a greater surface roughness was realized with matting agents MA02 and MA04 to MA12 than with MA01 or MA03, whereas according to the Pert-O-meter measurements papers with MA01 and MA04 exhibited higher R, values than with MA02 and MA03. The frictional measurements showed a significant reduction in friction with matting agents MA01 and MA02, whereas the paper of EXAMPLE 12/13 exhibited no significant change and the paper of EXAMPLE 12/14 showed an increase in frictional coefficients.

Printing evaluation was carried out using a Heidelberg GTO46 printing press with a K+E 123W ink and a fountain of 4% Emerald Premium with 10% isopropanol with an Azura printing plate exposed at 275 mJ/cm² with a CREO exposure station. The printing results are summarized in Table 22 below.

TABLE 22 Tape IGT test matting agent test dot gain time to Example coverage dry Powder for 50% Print avoid set-off nr nr [g/m²] [10 min] test screen mottle [s] 12/1 — — OK slight 27 no 12/2 — — — OK yes/no 9 12/3 — — OK v. slight 24 yes/no 12/4 MA01 0.05 — OK no 24 12/5 MA01 0.1 OK v. slight 26 no 12/6 MA01 0.1 — OK no 13 12/7 MA01 0.1 OK v. slight 23 yes/no 12/8 MA01 0.1 OK OK 28 no 12/9 MA01 0.15 — OK yes/no 18 12/10 MA01 0.20 — OK yes/no 18 12/11 MA01 0.25 OK v. slight 26 no 12/12 MA01 0.25 — OK yes/no 18 12/13 MA01 0.30 — OK yes/no 18 12/14 MA01 0.5 OK v. slight 27 no 12/15 MA02 0.1 OK v. slight 29 no 12/16 MA03 0.1 OK slight 31 no 12/17 MA04 0.1 OK v. slight 26 no 12/18 MA05 0.1 OK powdery 23 yes/no 12/19 MA06 0.1 OK v. slight 23 yes/no 12/20 MA07 0.1 OK v. slight 23 yes/no 12/21 MA08 0.1 OK v. slight 23 yes/no 12/22 MA09 0.1 OK powdery 23 yes/no 12/23 MA10 0.04 OK OK 28 no 12/24 MA10 0.06 OK OK 28 no 12/25 MA10 0.08 OK OK 28 no 12/26 MA10 0.1 OK v. good 23 yes/no 12/27 MA10 0.1 OK OK 28 no 12/28 MA11 0.1 OK powdery 23 yes/no 12/29 MA12 0.04 OK OK 28 no 12/30 MA12 0.06 OK OK 27 no 12/31 MA12 0.08 OK OK 27 no 12/32 MA12 0.1 OK v. slight 22 yes/no 12/33 MA12 0.1 OK OK 27 no

An increase in dot gain was observed with papers with MA02 and MA03 and a slight reduction in the case of MA01 and MA04 to MA12. The scratch resistance of the papers was improved with the matting agents MA2 (polyethylene particles), MA8 (benzoguanine-melamine/formaldehyde particles), MA9 (polyamide particles) and MA 10 (ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer particles), was acceptable with the matting agent MA1, but deteriorated with matting agents MA3 and MA4.

Example 13 Printing Performance

The film 1/LS1/BS1 subbed with subbing layer 3 was coated with a single layer on both sides of the different receiving layer with the compositions and coating weights given in Table 23.

TABLE 23 Slip agent/ Porous matting Coating Example Latex pigment Binder agent Surfactant Proxel wt nr nr wt % nr wt % nr wt % nr wt % nr wt % wt % [g/m²] 13/1 L01 67.8 PP21 25.4 — — SL01 6.8 — — 2.95 FLX5000 13/2 L01 67.5 PP21 25.3 — — SL01 6.8 S05 0.2 2.96 FLX5000 S06 0.1 13/3 L01 55.4 PP21 41.5 — — MA15 2.8 S05 0.2 3.61 FLX5000 S06 0.1 13/4 L04 47.58 PP21 47.48 B01 4.76 — — S07 0.18 4.84 FLX5010 13/5 L03 47.5 PP21 47.5 B01 4.8 — — S07 0.2 4.38 Dispercoll U53 13/6 L04 46.62 PP21 46.51 B01 4.66 MA01 2.0 S07 0.17 0.004 4.94 FLX5010

A single layer with the composition of EXAMPLE 6 was also successfully coated on film 1/LS1/BS1 subbed with subbing layers 4 and 5. Furthermore, it could be coated on corona-treated PGA paper, corona-treated KLEPA paper and also on cast-coated paper.

The most significant differences in the papers of EXAMPLES 3 to 8 lie in the coating weight of the porous pigment PP21 rising from 0.75 g/m² for the papers of EXAMPLES 3 and 4 to 1.5 g/m² in the case of the paper of EXAMPLE 5 to 2.9 g/m² in the case of the papers of EXAMPLES 6 and 7. This had a parallel effect on the drying behaviour of the papers, since the porosity of the receiving layers is determined by the quantity of porous pigment present therein, with the papers of EXAMPLES 3 and 4 exhibiting poor drying behaviour, whereas drying was acceptable in the case of the papers of EXAMPLES 5, 6 and 7. The scratch resistance of the papers of EXAMPLES 3, 4 and 5 was good, that of the paper of EXAMPLE 6 poor and those of the papers of EXAMPLES 7 and 8 made acceptable by the incorporation of a water-soluble binder to counter problems due to flaking.

The different latexes used had an influence upon the alkali resistance in which the paper of EXAMPLES 13/1, 13/2 and 13/3 with JONCRYL FLX5000 scored poorly, whereas the papers of EXAMPLES 13/4, 13/5 and 13/6 with JONCRYL FLX5010, also a styrene-acrylic latex and DISPERCOLL U53, a polyurethane resin scored well in this regard. However, DISPERCOLL U53 scored poorly in respect of UV-stability, whereas JONCRYL FLX 5000 and 5010 scored well in this regard.

The surface energies of the papers of EXAMPLES 13/3, 13/4, 13/5 and 13/6 were measured via contact angle measurements and the polar and disperse contributions determined. The results are summarized in Table 24.

TABLE 24 Surface free energy Example nr γSp mN/m γSd mN/m γS mN/m liquids used 13/3 0.00 34.12 34.12 all liquids 13/4 0.79 41.92 42.71 only glycerine 2.59 42.46 45.06 all liquids 13/5 34.40 27.16 61.56 only glycerine 13/6 4.63 39.86 44.49 all liquids

These papers were then subjected to printing tests using a Heidelbery GT052 printing press equipped with a Dahlgren fountain system, which allowed the quantity of fountain by printing to be accurately set. During the printing first the quantity of fountain was varied for a constant quantity of ink and then the quantity of fountain was kept constant and the quantity of ink varied. The resulting prints were evaluated on the basis of solid optical densities and dot gain with a Gretag Spectroeye densitometer with the results being given in Table 25.

TABLE 25 Example nr 13/1 13/2 13/3 13/4 13/5 13/6 Fountain environment optimum 50% Dg 55% Dg 50% Dg 60% Dg window below 20% 25% 20% 25% window above 5% 20% 25% 25% Ink environment optimum ink setting 8 8 8 8 window below 4 4 4 4 window above 2 6 6 10  dot gain for 50% screen at optimum setting Gretag Spectroeye 30% 19% 16% 16%

The papers of EXAMPLES 13/1 and 13/2 had an acceptable printing window, but set-off was a problem due to the poor drying performance of these papers. EXAMPLES 13/4 and 13/5 had clearly a greater printing window and less dot gain than the paper of EXAMPLE 13/3. Furthermore, the paper of EXAMPLE 5 exhibited print mottle, which was not observed with the papers of EXAMPLES 13/4 and 13/5. The papers of EXAMPLES 13/4 and 13/5 exhibited no set-off, rapid drying even at high ink settings, stable printing performance and exhibited identical printing behaviour to paper. No significant difference was observed between the printing performances of the papers of EXAMPLES 13/4 and 13/5.

Example 14 Optimalization of Receiving Layer Composition

The subbed film 1/LS1/BS1 was coated with a single layer on both sides of the different receiving layer compositions in Table 26.

TABLE 26 wt ratio Total latex latex/ binder Surfactact coating pore oil Example L04 PP 12 porous B01 S07 weight volume* absorption* nr [g/m²] [g/m²] pigment [g/m²] [g/m²] [g/m²] [mL/m²] [mg/m²] 14/1 2 2 1.00 0.20 0.01 3.2 60 14/2 3 2 1.50 0.20 0.01 3.2 60 14/3 4 2 2.00 0.20 0.01 3.2 60 14/4 4 3 1.33 0.20 0.01 4.8 90 14/5 4 4 1.00 0.20 0.01 6.4 120 14/6 4 3 2.00 0.20 0.01 4.8 90 14/7 2 0.75 2.67 0.20 0.01 1.2 22.5 14/8 2 1 2.00 0.20 0.01 1.6 30 14/9 2 1.25 1.60 0.20 0.01 2 37.5 14/10 2 1.5 1.33 0.20 0.01 2.4 45 14/11 2 1.75 1.14 0.20 0.01 2.8 52.5 14/12 2 2 1.00 0.20 0.01 3.2 60 14/13 2.5 1.5 1.67 0.20 0.01 2.4 45 14/14 3 1.5 2.00 0.20 0.01 2.4 45 14/15 3.5 1.5 2.33 0.20 0.01 2.4 45 14/16 4 1.5 2.67 0.20 0.01 2.4 45 14/17 2 2 1.00 0.20 0.01 4.20 3.2 60 14/18 1.75 1.75 1.00 0.17 0.01 3.67 2.8 52.5 14/19 1.5 1.5 1.00 0.15 0.01 3.15 2.4 45 14/20 1.25 1.25 1.00 0.12 0.01 2.62 2 37.5 14/21 1 1 1.00 0.10 0.01 2.10 1.6 30 14/22 0.75 0.75 1.00 0.07 0.01 1.57 1.2 22.5 14/23 0.5 0.5 1.00 0.05 0.01 1.05 0.8 15 14/24 1.5 1.5 1.00 0.20 0.01 3.20 2.4 45 14/25 1.0 1.0 1.00 0.20 0.01 2.20 1.6 30 14/26 0.5 0.5 1.00 0.20 0.01 1.20 0.8 15 *calculated on the basis of the coverage of porous pigment from a pore volume of 1.6 mL/g and oil absorption of 300 g/100 g

These papers were then subjected to printing tests using a Heidelberg GT052 printing press with K+E 123w ink and a 4% Emerald Premium fountain with 10% isopropanol. This printing press was equipped with a Dahlgren fountain system, which allowed the quantity of fountain by printing to be accurately set.

The print quality was evaluated both by qualitative visual inspection tests and quantitative tests with an IGT Global Tester-2 in which the drying time to avoid set-off was determined according to ISO 3783 and ink penetration evaluated on the basis of the track formed and optical density of a 0.6 μL coloured dibutyl phthalate droplet applied to a paper with the receiving layer composition being evaluated on a rotating drum according to NEN 1836. The results are also given in Table 27.

TABLE 27 tests with IGT Global visual inspection Standard Tester-2 tests time to pore oil drying ink penetration avoid Example volume* absorption* print set- time length set-off nr [mL/m²] [mg/cm²] mottle off [hr] [mm] OD [s] 14/1 3.2 60 no 14/2 3.2 60 yes 14/3 3.2 60 yes 14/4 4.8 90 yes 14/5 6.4 120 no 14/6 4.8 90 yes 14/7 1.2 22.5 yes yes 14/8 1.6 30 yes yes 14/9 2 37.5 yes no 14/10 2.4 45 yes no 14/11 2.8 52.5 yes no 14/12 3.2 60 no no 14/13 2.4 45 yes no 14/14 2.4 45 yes slight 14/15 2.4 45 yes yes 14/16 2.4 45 yes yes 14/17 3.2 60 no no 105.3 0.53 3 14/18 2.8 52.5 no no 108.7 0.51 3 14/19 2.4 45 no no 112.0 0.5 4 14/20 2 37.5 no no 109.3 0.48 5 14/21 1.6 30 no yes >24 116.0 0.41 6 14/22 1.2 22.5 yes/no yes >24 126.3 0.36 >13 14/23 0.8 15 yes yes >120 143.0 0.29 >13 14/24 2.4 45 no no 115.3 0.51 3 14/25 1.6 30 no no 121.3 0.42 5 14/26 0.8 15 no yes >24 139.7 0.33 >13

The results in Table 27 clearly show for receiving layers based on Latex 04 and porous pigment PP21 that the combined requirements of avoiding print mottle and avoiding set-off with sufficiently rapid drying could only be realized with a ca. 1:1 weight ratio of Latex 04 to porous pigment PP21 together with a sufficient coverage of both ingredients i.e. sufficient porosity. These results clearly show that the required results were only realized at or above a theoretically available pore volume in the layer of 1.5 mL/m². Print mottle is due to the solvent content of the printing ink being absorbed too slowly and set-off is due to the ink drying insufficiently quickly.

It has been surprisingly found that excellent printing behaviour can be obtained by practicing the various aspects of the present invention, these aspects including but not limited to coating a water-resistant support with a single layer with a layer thickness of at least 3 μm, a pore volume of at least 1.2 mL/m² and which comprises at least one porous pigment.

The papers of the present invention provide, among other advantages, satisfactory printing under a wide range of printing conditions ensuring a constant printing quality over a long print run, e.g., variation in the quantity of ink, variation in the quantity of fountain in offset printing, with sufficiently fast drying to avoid offset of the image on following sheets (so-called ghost images) while ensuring that the ink is completely transferred to the paper during the printing process. These papers also exhibit acceptable whiteness, so not affect the colour of the print, exhibit acceptable opacity, are water-resistant, exhibit good scratch resistance, exhibit good chemical resistance to acids and alkali's and/or are suitable for outside applications, i.e., are resistant to UV-exposure and oxidation.

The present invention may include any feature or combination of features disclosed herein either implicitly or explicitly or any generalisation thereof. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Having described in detail preferred embodiments of the current invention, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Of course, variations of those preferred embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 

1. A printable paper comprising a water-resistant support having two optionally subbed sides and a single layer on at least one of said optionally subbed sides, wherein said single layer has no substantial compositional variation, has a layer thickness of at least 3 μm, a pore volume of at least 1.2 mL/m² and comprises at least one porous pigment, wherein said water-resistant support is a non-transparent microvoided axially stretched directly extruded linear polyester having dispersed therein from 5 to 20% by weight of at least one amorphous high polymer having a higher glass transition temperature than that of said linear polyester and from 0.1 to 10% by weight of at least one crystalline high polymer having a higher melting point than the glass transition temperature of said linear polyester, wherein said crystalline high polymer is isotactic poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), wherein said amorphous high polymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, styrene copolymers, styrene-acrylonitrile-polymers, polyacrylates, acrylate-copolymers, polymethacrylates and methacrylate-copolymers.
 2. The printable paper according to claim 1, wherein said single layer further comprises at least one latex.
 3. The printable paper according to claim 2, wherein said at least one latex is an anionic acrylic latex or an aliphatic polyurethane latex.
 4. The printable paper according to claim 1, wherein said single layer further comprises at least one water-soluble binder.
 5. The printable paper according to claim 4, wherein said at least one water soluable binder is a hydrolyzed homo or copolymer of a vinylester.
 6. The printable paper according to claim 5, wherein said hydrolyzed homo or copolymer of a vinylester is a hydrolyzed homo or copolymer of vinyl acetate.
 7. The printable paper according to claim 2, wherein said single layer further comprises at least one insolubilizing agent unless said at least one latex is solubilized with ammonium hydroxide.
 8. The printable paper according to claim 7, wherein said insolubilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of: polyisocyanates, formaldehyde, formaldehyde derivatives, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, glyoxal-derivatives, dimethylol urea, polyanionic metallic compounds and melamine-formaldehyde resins, and carboxylic acid anhydrides which contain a plurality of anhydride moieties on each molecular entity.
 9. The printable paper according to claim 1, wherein said single layer further comprises at least one hardened initially water-soluble polyhydroxy resin.
 10. The printable paper according to claim 1, wherein said water-resistant support is resin-coated cellulosic paper, a web having a fibrous structure formed with synthetic fibers or a web in which a film is directly extruded from a thermoplastic polymer.
 11. The printable paper according to claim 1, wherein said water-resistant support comprises at least 50% by weight of a linear polyester.
 12. The printable paper according to claim 1, wherein said styrene-acrylonitrile-polymer block copolymer.
 13. The printable paper according to claim 1, wherein said amorphous high polymer is styrene-acrylonitrile-block copolymer.
 14. The printable paper according to claim 13, wherein said single layer further comprises at least one latex.
 15. The printable paper according to claim 14, wherein said at least one latex is an anionic acrylic latex or an aliphatic polyurethane latex.
 16. The printable paper according to claim 13, wherein said single layer further comprises at least one water-soluble binder.
 17. A process for producing a printable paper according to claim 1 comprising the steps of: (i) optionally providing a water-resistant support having two sides with a subbing layer on at least one side; (ii) providing at least one side of said optionally subbed water-resistant support with a single layer having no substantial compositional variation, said single layer being applied to said optionally subbed water-resistant support as at least one wet aqueous layer in a single pass for each side of said water-resistant support, said at least one aqueous layer comprising at least one latex, at least one pigment, at least one binder and optionally at least one insolubilizing agent, wherein said latex is an anionic acrylic latex or an aliphatic polyurethane latex.
 18. The process according to claim 17, wherein said at least one pigment is a porous pigment or has a specific surface area greater than 100 m²/g.
 19. A process for utilizing a printable paper comprising: (a) providing a printable paper according to claim 1 and (b) subjecting the printable paper to a contact or contactless printing technique, technique.
 20. A process for utilizing a printable paper according to claim 1 comprising: (a) obtaining a printable paper by a process comprising the steps of: (i) optionally providing a water-resistant support having two sides with a subbing layer on at least one side; and (ii) providing at least one side of said optionally subbed water-resistant support with a single layer having no substantial compositional variation, said single layer being applied to said optionally subbed water-resistant support as at least one wet aqueous layer in a single pass for each side of said water-resistant support, said at least one aqueous layer comprising at least one latex, at least one pigment, at least one binder and optionally at least one insolubilizing agent, wherein said latex is an anionic acrylic latex or an aliphatic polyurethane latex, and (b) subjecting the printable paper to a contact or contactless printing technique. 